Thursday, November 10, 2016

KBShimmer A Walk in the Park-a

Like Ink Again, A Walk in the Park-a was released at the beginning of this month by Indiana-based indie polish maker KBShimmer as part of the Winter 2016 collection. Officially described as a lush orchid creme, the color here is a creamy, medium-toned reddish purple that runs anywhere from dark orchid to to French plum to medium red-violet to beetroot depending upon lighting and viewing circumstances. All iterations are rich, full-bodied and soulful -- exactly the sort of qualities you want in a winter shade. Application was fantastic. The consistency of A Walk in the Park-a is fluid, ultra creamy and dense with a medium viscosity and a luxe, velvety glide over the nail that has a tiny bit of pull to it. Self-leveling properties are excellent and pigmentation is outstanding, delivery evenly opaque coverage and full bottle color in just one coat. I used two for this manicure to fix some edges, but it made no difference in the appearance of the polish otherwise. Cleanup is straightforward with a small amount of pigment travel but little trace staining, most accommodating for a polish as well-pigmented as this. A Walk in the Park-a dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, shiny finish. Photos show two coats of A Walk in the Park-a over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

KBShimmer A Walk in the Park-a

KBShimmer A Walk in the Park-a

KBShimmer A Walk in the Park-a

KBShimmer A Walk in the Park-a

KBShimmer A Walk in the Park-a

KBShimmer A Walk in the Park-a

KBShimmer A Walk in the Park-a

KBShimmer A Walk in the Park-a

KBShimmer A Walk in the Park-a

KBShimmer A Walk in the Park-a

This is a beautiful, luminous color that has a certain gracious sophistication and poise to it, like the welcoming, self-assured host who immediately puts you at your ease. It reminds me of my wonderful college friend Kathye, who cultivated a polish aesthetic that I endeavored to assimilate. I picture her wearing polishes like this one, luxurious, unapologetically feminine colors and rich cremes that were so much more cosmopolitan than the pale, frosty fare that I typically selected for myself at the time. Hey Kath, it took me a while, didn't it? Ha!xo,Liz